What’s a Former Christian, Orthodox Woman Doing as Dean of an Israeli University?

Examples abound of Orthodox Jewish women serving in advanced career positions: law, medicine and the military. Now, with her appointment as Dean of Exact Science at Israel’s Bar Ilan University, mathematician Dr. Malka Schaps is perhaps the first Orthodox woman in the world to rise to this rank at a major university.

It’s been a long road for Malka, now a 65-year-old grandmother of 17. She grew up as Mary Elizabeth Kramer in suburban Ohio, attending Christian Sunday school where she studied Bible stories and memorized the Ten Commandments.

While in seventh grade, her family switched from the Christian church that her mother preferred, to a less dogmatic Unitarian one favored by her father.

It was a harbinger of what would eventually become a total move away from Christianity.

Late in high school, Malka began a personal philosophical search.

“I was raised with a commitment to be ‘good’ – not to lie, cheat or steal,” she says. “At the same time my theological position was basically atheist. This raised the very question of: Why be good?”

Malka delved into the classic philosophers such as Descartes, Nietzsche – “looking for a ‘good reason to be good.’” When she didn’t find answers, she began to consider the possibility of religion. “Once I started thinking in those terms, it was obvious that Judaism – the root of monotheism – was a good place to start.”

Malka moved on to Swarthmore, an elite liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. Her father – a professor of American history who never got tenure – pushed her to become an academician. “In retrospect, he was trying to compensate for having been less successful in his own academic career,” she says. He was pushing me to fulfill his unfulfilled ambitions."

Malka was struck by the depth of Jewish wisdom and tools for self-discipline.

Malka’s next big step toward Judaism came during her sophomore year at college, when she served as a counselor at summer camp. Her co-counselor was Jewish. Though Malka had met many Jews before, this one was “observant.” Malka’s new friend taught her how to read Hebrew (using an Israeli Telma soup poster), took her to Friday night services, and showed her some basics of keeping kosher.

What began as a passing curiosity at summer camp, soon mushroomed into a path to Orthodox conversion.

"Jewish observance, with its wisdom and tools for self-discipline, has a depth that I never saw in other religions," she says.

On to Harvard

While still an undergrad, Malka spent a semester doing research at a university in Kiel, Germany. It was there – under the shadow of the Holocaust – that she began to consider the idea of becoming Jewish.

“As the Passover holiday approached, I wanted to attend a Seder, which I’d never done before,” she told Aish.com. “I went looking for the Jews, and discovered there were only three left in the entire city.” She eventually connected with an Australian rabbi in the city of Hamburg who had been imported as the community mohel. He became her teacher, offering guidance on how to keep kosher and observe Shabbat.

Back at Swarthmore, Malka met a young man named David Schaps. He came from a New York Jewish family who kept kosher at home. He was becoming more observant; their paths to Judaism occurring in parallel.

Malka converted to Judaism and married David. Together they set about pursuing PhD studies at Harvard. After a few years, they earned doctorates on the same day: she in mathematics, he in ancient Greek classics.

How did her parents react to the conversion?

“After I started keeping kosher, I came home and my mother served my favorite meal of mashed potatoes and pork chops. She was not too pleased when I wouldn’t eat it.

“She eventually got used to it. She even bought a new set of dishes so I could cook kosher at her house. Though for many years I think she hoped I would return to the Unitarian church.”

Amazingly, Malka discovered only recently that she may have Jewish blood.

“When my mother was 95, she told me that ‘back in Germany, the Kramers were Jewish.’ All these years nobody – including my father – had ever mentioned Jewish ancestry. This might explain his Unitarian background – when German Jews were ‘dropping out,’ that was a more palatable option than going full Christian.”

Move to Israel

Following graduation from Harvard, Malka and her husband made the big move to Israel. They preferred it, she says, because “living here is like being in the center of things.”

Both Malka and David found teaching positions in Israel, but the adjustment was difficult. “It is said there is never a year of ‘working so hard and accomplishing so little’ as your first year of teaching. On top of it all, I was also trying to learn Hebrew.”

Malka and David started a family. After two children, they decided to become foster parents as well. "The other families in our apartment building had 13 children each, so we felt a need to expand.”

Two foster children stayed with the family until adulthood. Others were a rockier ride.

“We had two foster children who were siblings. At one point the parents wanted to take them back, but the kids didn’t want to go. That resulted in a long, drawn-out court case.”

On another occasion, the Schaps had a foster baby whose mother suddenly took him away and didn’t allow them to see him. “That was extremely painful,” she recounts. “For years I would go to observe him, just looking through the chain-link fence. When he was 13, I called his grandmother and she gave us permission to come visit.”

Along the way, both Malka and David both found a niche at Bar Ilan, Israel’s only religious university. He became a professor of classical studies, specializing in Greek literature and philosophy. He served for many years as chaplain in the Israel Defense Forces, and still teaches a daily Talmud class.

Malka joined the Department of Exact Sciences, encompassing to the core disciplines of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Her career flourished – she lectured at academic conferences around the world, sharing her research on “spin representations,” a futuristic quantum mechanics field that even she is hard-pressed to explain. She also founded a program in financial mathematics, which she ran for five years.

The career path was far from easy. “A professorship is not easy to attain, because you have to publish. Especially for mothers of small children, it’s hard to manage a family and a career. The challenge is simply finding the time to do everything.”

A few months ago, when it came time to choose a new dean, Malka’s name was submitted for candidacy. Initially, she resisted the idea of taking precious time away from her research. “In the end, I did it for the sake of raising the status of women. Girls are just as smart as boys and can be successful in scientific careers.”

Seven-time Novelist

In her “spare” time, Malka has become a prolific author of novels. Under the pen name Rachel Pomerantz, her works address many of the issues she’s confronted in her own life – particularly the idea of human bias and prejudice.

“People from different cultures have a different historical view, a different family structure, and a different set of basic premises,” she says. “It is important to account for that and not expect everyone to behave in a way that resembles your own.”

One of her most popular works examines the social divide between Israelis – religious and secular, Arabs and settlers. In researching the topic, she spent nine years as president of the prestigious alumni organization, the Harvard Club of Israel. This gave her the chance to meet with people from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs.

It’s important to speak with people – even if you don’t agree with them.

“My premise is that it’s important to speak with people – even if you don’t agree with them. When two people find a common interest, they can communicate and discover that the ‘other side’ is really human. In terms of transferring this to real life, it’s not always so easy. It requires real openness and mutual respect. It wasn’t even easy to create it in a novel!”

Is there hope for greater understanding between the various sectors of Israeli society?

“School and the workplace are the most natural places for this to happen,” she says. “At Bar Ilan, for example, people sit together in class and help each other. So it is definitely achievable."

Another of her novels revolves around two college roommates – one a woman who converted to Judaism and moved to Israel; the other who remained a secular, non-Jewish mathematician in the United States.

“These characters represent the two divergent paths my life could have taken,” Malka says.

Throughout her many years in academia, has she encountered an opposition to religion, as something that “serious intellectuals would never countenance”?

“Yes, but I always point out that the study of mathematics shares something in common with Judaism. They both seek to discern a greater order of things and the objective truth.”

About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons is the co-founder of Aish.com, and co-author of "48 Ways to Wisdom" (ArtScroll). He is co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive account of anti-Israel media bias. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 26

(21)
Anonymous,
February 22, 2015 8:30 PM

I love Israel!!!

In Judaism you can be whatever you want!!I am a Zionist in the Diaspora because my family is in the us , Argentina and Israel.I feel Very Jewish no practicing commandments. I believe being a good human is all that has merit!!! I hope for Peace ,Shalom!!!

(20)
Howard,
February 18, 2015 2:02 AM

A very inspiring story.

i very much enjoyed going with Dean Malka's on her journey to becoming an Orthodox Jew.
Thanks for sharing her story.

(19)
Wally Right,
August 20, 2014 11:15 PM

The number of people whose parents didn't tell them they have a Jewish background is much greater than you might think.In Europe those who survived often didn't have a "Jewish look" and many deliberately decided not to burden their children with the risks of Jewishness.

(18)
Dr I J Horner,
August 19, 2014 8:37 PM

Moshe / Avraham

Hi Malka You might like this one. I personally have put this to-getherYour comment that Judaism and mathematics have similarities encouraged this communication.Many Jews know the answer to this conundrum From Moses to Moses no one has appeared in the Jewish horizon as great as these two Moses"s The first Moses being the Biblical Moses and the second , Moses MaimonidesNow my contributionFrom Abraham to Abraham no one has appeared on the Jewish scene as great as these 2 Abraham'sThe 1st Abraham the biblical Abraham for his recognition of a single creator of the universe The 2nd Abraham Albert (called Abraham at his Bar-mitzva ) Einstein for having identified the maths and physics by which of Gods creation functions.Both Abrahams having destroyed previous competing inferior edifices

(17)
Stephanie,
August 17, 2014 6:13 PM

An amazing role model for women

It is so important to see woman succeed. I think given her excellent achievements, she should consider politics. Israel would benefit from being led by women like her.

(16)
Jerry,
January 26, 2014 5:10 PM

Nice article

I loved the article and I'm now a new fan of Malka the professor and I also hope to read her novels under her pen name. Her personal story sounds like another book in the making to me.

(15)
sammy,
January 23, 2014 4:29 AM

Spirituality, Middot & discipline

I'd like to thank Aish so much for this inspiring story that is set in front of me. This is exactly what I needed and I'm very grateful to Hashem for you sharing this with me.
Her life is such a great example of what I should strive for.

(14)
Anonymous,
January 21, 2014 7:41 PM

Thank you for this inspirational piece. I have always been a big fan of "Rachel Pomerantz's " books (I read them, and then reread them!) and have often wondered about the author. Sometimes, I feel that I know her through her books. What an incredible story!

(13)
Anonymous,
January 21, 2014 1:41 PM

amazing story

very impressive life's accomplishments, She seemingly has fit 3 lives of activities into 65 years, and still going!

(12)
Anonymous,
January 21, 2014 12:18 AM

Yasher Koach

Imagine my surprise when I found out your pen name! I am a big fan of your books, and now the content really makes sense! Kol HaKavod to all your accomplishments; may you continue to inspire in all these aspects of your life!

(11)
Dina,
January 20, 2014 8:33 PM

This is so funny!

As I was reading the article, I was thinking how similar this sounded to Rachel Pomerantz (my absolute favorite writer of all time). And then I see it's her!

(10)
TF,
January 20, 2014 5:55 PM

An avid Rachel Pomerantz fan

My mother and sisters have devoured each and every one of Malka's novels, to the extent that my husband has remarked countless times that I've convinced myself that the stories have actually happened. Reading this article gives me elevated respect for the woman we've always admired, and has shown me that these novels really are true - a brilliant masterpiece based on numerous factors in her life and the challenges her and her husband have faced. A true inspiration...

(9)
Anonymous,
January 20, 2014 11:22 AM

An inspiration to women!

Now that I am near 80years old, I wish I could have been a better Jew.

Jewish Mom,
January 20, 2014 1:13 PM

Follow your heart!

You're only 80 years young - it's not too late to learn Jewish wisdom and practice Jewish law! Moses became the leader of the Jewish people at 80 years of age. You don't have to be a leader or a head of a department in academia. It's enough to deepen your relationship with G-d by doing His Will. Rabbi Israel of Salant, a great Jewish sage who started The Mussar Movement - a movement that encouraging Jewish scholars to study Jewish works of ethics in addition to Jewish law, was once walking the streets late at night and saw a shoemaker still hunched over his workbench, hard at work by candlelight. The rabbi asked the craftsman why he was working so late. The man answered, "All the while that the candle still burns, one can make repairs." The rabbi was struck by the depth of what he heard: our souls are likened to a candle, and all the while that our souls are still burning in our bodies and we are granted another day, hour and minute of life, it is not too late to repair what needs to be done. Success is not judged by fame - it is being the best we can be.

Lisa Darginsky,
January 21, 2014 11:07 AM

you are

You are a better Jew. You have today to prove it to yourself.

Yisroel,
January 22, 2014 1:38 AM

Looking Forward

It's not too late! And may you have a long, good life ahead of you.

(8)
leah,
January 19, 2014 11:01 PM

absolutely amazing woman of valour , personally i feel that it really gave me a lift in chosing judaism because right now Im going through such a process because even though i am a christian I feel that spirituality is an important feature of my life and yes we need to talkwith people even if they do not agree with us some people turned away from me but those who think that I made my own decision in becoming jewish I welcome them

(7)
Frank,
January 19, 2014 8:39 PM

Glass ceiling

How many Haredim women in israel are breaking the glass ceiling? This lady is because she earned her credentials before she became frum.

Hadar,
January 21, 2014 1:26 AM

Frank, that belittles her acheivement!

She may have earned her Phd before she was frum but obtaining tenure is waaaaay harder and that was done once she was BT!

(6)
Anonymous,
January 19, 2014 6:11 PM

amazing article!

DR, Schaps,I am amazed about this line in the article-because we at

beamensch.com really believe this,and are successfully hosting these

meetings on an ongoing basis (it's really working!)

"It’s important to speak with people – even if you don’t agree with

them.“My premise is that it’s important to speak with people – even if

you don’t agree with them. When two people find a common interest, they

can communicate and discover that the ‘other side’ is really human. In

terms of transferring this to real life, it’s not always so easy. It

requires real openness and mutual respect"

Your story is a true Kiddush Hashem!

(5)
Suzi,
January 19, 2014 5:23 PM

While searching for the true reason to be good, she found Judaism

I loved reading about this "truly," good woman. She spends her life practicing, not giving only lip service, to a beautiful Jewish philosophy. Practicing what you preach is not easy, especially when it is to be good, respectful, ethical, and open to diverse people, and ideas. A person who is inherently intelligent, truth seeking, and desirous of an intimate knowledge, and relationship, with the roots of being good, is a perfect depiction of the person in this article.Malka has managed to have it all. She may feel certain areas of her life suffer when she feeds other areas, and yet what I observe is a woman with a need to find the truth, and put it into practice, which is exactly what she has been doing, always.When I say, "have it all," it seems, she did not have to sacrifice any part of life which HASHEM has made available.This wonderful person has been a truly good example of humanity. She makes use of her erudite brain, to the fullest. Malka enjoys being a woman who strives to be the best she can be, while paving the way for others of her gender, to make the most of their lives. Mrs. Schaps found the "top to her pot," while continuing to endeavor, and embrace, all she views as important. She is a wife, mother, daughter, professional, student of life in every aspect, and filled with a "child like," curiosity for all that connects the family of man.I see her as a Jewess first, and this coincides with her being a humanitarian. Everything else Malka is, is the product of her need to learn, desire to help, and innately, set a good example of a happy, loving, caring, educated, and productive human being. What more is there? Unless she becomes an astronaut, and teaches on the moon, she has reached the stars already. This woman, even as a girl, had a Jewish Soul, and a "Yiddisha Kup." There, I don't pretend to be anywhere near perfect, my bias is showing. Convert, or natural, a Jew is a Jew, through and through.Thank you Rabbi Simmons.

(4)
KJBH,
January 19, 2014 4:40 PM

A true woman of valour - thank you for the inspiration

Malka your story is truly inspirational. I am a divorced woman in her 50s who was a very strong Christian including the director of a Christian/Israeli organization. About 10 years ago I was introduced to messianic Christianity which , long story short , lead me to the path of truth....Torah observant orthodox judaism. My youngest daughter and I are now on the path of conversion. I too believe I have Jewish great great grandparents but that is yet to be found. No matter...I am on a path that feels like I have come home. I was inspired to read of your challenges and triumphs ! I have a burning desire to create an NGO in Israel to address the issue of girls/women trapped in human trafficking. You story has motivated me to keep going. I wasn't sure if or how that could fit into my new orthodox identity and lifestyle but you have just shown me it is! Thank you again for sharing your story and even more, for having the courage to live it! And by the way....mazel tov on your achievements!!

(3)
Bob Rabinoff,
January 19, 2014 4:34 PM

Cramer

Wasn't the GR"A's family name Cramer? And he was also a world-class mathematician (in his spare time). Some say that he invented Cramer's Rule for inverting matrices/solving simultaneous equations.

Anonymous,
January 20, 2014 9:57 AM

Great story!

Cramer is a fairly common surname amongst both Jews and gentiles. Cramer is a german word meaning merchant. Surnames are often not a good indicator to determine whether someone is Jewish.In any case, this is a truly amazing story. An extraordinary example of Someone who has used her talents in the best possible way. A good reminder for me not to be lazy and use the talents Hashem haa so generously granted me.

(2)
Anonymous,
January 19, 2014 3:55 PM

THANK YOU for sharing this story!!

We have just finished our conversion as well. We are so happy!! FINALLY I feel I BELONG!!

(1)
C.A. Lewis-McCarren,
January 19, 2014 3:19 PM

Belonging

This story resonated in my heart, for I too have a similar story in that my path to Judaism has been and currently is a journey to a place of belonging. My grandfather 5 generations ago was Jewish. When coming to this country he assimilated and then there was nothing...... Until I uncovered my families past. Funny this is - WAY before I found out I started studying Judaism because I had "become" a Christian and was having a very hard time understanding Scripture because it never made sense to me. In fact, I was even told not to worry about things that really didn't matter in regards to my salvation. Upon the first lessons of Torah I was overcome with a truth of how every single letter was of highest importance - NOTHING was insignificant in G-d's word. It was at that moment I knew who I was and where I belong. I'm in the process of making it "official" but regardless, my love, admiration, respect and deep loyalty to the Jewish people and most of all my Abba for my life and purpose - I already feel like I belong and am honored and proud of my heritage.
Wonderful and inspiring life of Malka!! Thank you for this story.

I always loved the story of Jonah and the whale. Why do we read it during the afternoon service of Yom Kippur?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Let's recap the story: God tells Jonah to go to Ninveh and to prophesy that in 40 days, God will destroy the city. Instead, Jonah goes to Jaffa, boards a ship, and sails for Tarshish. A great storm arises. Frightened, Jonah goes to sleep in the ship's hold. The sailors somehow recognize that Jonah is responsible for the storm. They throw him overboard, and the sea becomes calm.

A great fish swallows Jonah. Then three days later, God commands the fish to spit Jonah back out upon dry land. God tells Jonah, "Let's try it again. Go to Ninveh and tell them in 40 days I will destroy the city."

The story is a metaphor for our struggle for clarity. Jonah is the soul. The soul is assigned to sanctify the world, and draw it close to God. But we are seduced by the world's beauty. (Jaffa in Hebrew means "beauty.") The ship is the body, the sea is the world, and the storm is life's pains and troubles. God hopes confrontation with mortality will inspire us to examine our lives. But Jonah's is the more common response - we go to sleep (have a beer, turn on the television). The sailors throw Jonah overboard - this is death. The fish that swallows Jonah is the grave. Jonah is spat back upon the land - reincarnation. And the Almighty tells us to try again. "Go sanctify the world and bring it close to God."

Each of us is born with an opportunity and a challenge. We each have unique gifts to offer the world and unique challenges to perfect ourselves. If we leave the task unfinished the first time, we get a second chance. Jonah teaches us that repentance can reverse a harsh decree. If the residents of Ninveh had the ability to correct their mistakes and do teshuva, how much more so do we have the ability to correct our former mistakes and do teshuva.

(source: "The Bible for the Clueless But Curious," by Rabbi Nachum Braverman)

In 1948, Egypt launched a large-scale offensive against the Negev region of Israel. This was part of the War of Independence, an attack by five Arab armies designed to "drive the Jews into the sea." Though the Jews were under-armed, untrained, and few in number, through ingenuity and perseverance they staved off the attacks and secured the borders. Yet the price was high -- Israel lost 6,373 of its people, a full one percent of the Jewish population of Israel at the time.

And what does teshuvah consist of? [Repentance to the degree] that the One Who knows all that is hidden will testify that he will never again repeat this sin(Maimonides, Laws of Teshuvah 2:2).

"How can this be?" ask the commentaries. "Inasmuch as man always has free choice to do good or evil, to sin or not to sin, how can God testify that a person will never repeat a particular sin? Is this not a repudiation of one's free will?"

The answer to this came to me at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, at which the speaker, a man who had been sober for twenty-one years, said, "The man I was drank. The man I was will drink again. But now I am a different man."

A sin does not occur in a vacuum. A person who is devout does not abruptly decide to eat treifah. A sin occurs when a person is in such a state that a particular act is not anathema to him.

Consequently, repentance is not complete if one merely regrets having done wrong. One must ask, "How did this sin ever come about? In what kind of a state was I that permitted me to commit this sin?"

True repentance thus consists of changing one's character to the point where, as the person is now, one can no longer even consider doing the forbidden act. Of course, the person's character may deteriorate - and if it does, he may sin again.

God does not testify that the person will never repeat the sin, but rather that his degree of repentance and correction of his character defects are such that, as long as he maintains his new status, he will not commit that sin.

Today I shall...

try to understand how I came to do those things that I regret having done, and bring myself to a state where such acts will be alien to me.

With stories and insights,
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